Cigarette-package opener



E. C. PRITCHARD.-

CIGARETTE PACKAGE OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1919.

1,370,996. Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

UNITED STATES ERNEST G. PRITCHARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CIGARETTE-PACKAGE OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application filed May 21, 1919. Serial No. 298,700.

T 0 all '10 ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. PRITGHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cigarette-Package Openers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cigarette package openers and has for its object, the production of a device by the use of which a package of cigarettes can be quickly opened using one hand.

A further object of my invention is that it will stand rigid when in use.

A further object of my invention is that it is of few parts, of simple construction and one not liable to get .out of order.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by my de vice, an embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my device.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional view 011 the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 represents a sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, a represents a stand having an enlarged'base b, and a top 0, extending horizontally. At the top is a centrally located bore or socket (Z, either smooth or screw threaded as desired. A cutting blade 6 is formed with a hori- Zontal base resting on the surface 6 and is provided with a downwardly extendingpin or screw f, adapted to enter into the bore 0, and hold the cutting member rigidly-in an upright position.

As shown in Fig. 2, the blade is formed of a diamond shaped section or with a thickened center as in g, thus giving great strength and rigidity to the blade and preventing all danger of the blade bending or breaking when the device is in use. The blade terminates in a sharp point, and has two cutting edges, jj.

A flattened lower surface of the blade member fits snugly against the upper surface 0 of the base, thus increasing the rigidity of the device.

My device is intended to be placed on a cigar counter and used for opening packages of cigarettes. The device stands rigidly on its base, is not liable to be overturned and the base may be made of wood, metal or plastic material and the blade may be forced or screwed into position in the bore or socket cl and be permanently secured therein, or if desired, may be so mounted that it can be removed and replaced with a new or sharpened blade in the event the blade becomes broken or dull.

lVhile my device is of simple construction, it is one of great value for the purposes for which it is desired.

lVhile I have illustrated a single form of my device, I realize that other forms or modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim- As a new article of manufacture, a cigarette package opener comprising a base member, with an enlarged foot and a flattened top, a metallic blade member having a sharpened point and cutting edge, said blade member being flattened at the bottom and fitting snugly against the upper sur face of said base, a retaining pin integral with the lower end of said blade member and adapted to fit within a socket within said base, holding said members rigidly together in operative relation to each other. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ERNEST C. PRITCHARD. 

